Introduction to ICROFS:International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems

Lise Andreasen

• What is ICROFS?• From DARCOF to ICROFS• Organic in Denmark• ICROFS present and future

international activities• What is our driving force

International Centre for Researchin Organic Food Systems (ICROFS)

• A centre without walls funded by the Min. of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

• A collaboration between universities• Promoting and coordinating organic

research nationally and internationally• Disseminating organic research results

and knowledge• Collaborating with international funding

bodies and research organisations interested in supporting development of organic food systems

• International board with members from Asia, Africa, America, Europe, IFOAM

• National Programme Committee

www.icrofs.org

International Centre for Researchin Organic Food Systems (ICROFS)

www.orgprints.org

WHAT is ICROFS?

ICROFS at research

centre Foulum

WHAT is ICROFS?

- Action Plan for Sustainable Development of Agriculture in Denmark 1991

- First national program of Ministry of Agriculture on organic farming 1993-97

- Danish Agricultural Research Center for Organic Farming (DARCOF) in 1996

To initiate and coordinate research in organic food and farming systems in Denmark- for development of the sector and its integrity and efficiency of entire food chain- to provide knowledge of contribution of OA to sustainable development User committee with representatives from farmer organisations and NGOs

DARCOF 2008

From DARCOF to ICROFSMinistry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries

From DARCOF to ICROFS

1996

2000

2005

2010

DARCOF I

(19 mio USD)

DARCOF II

(43 mio USD)

DARCOF III

(38 mio USD)

ØkoForsk Plus

COREOrganic I

CORE Organic II

Production and environment. Research development and communication(33 projects)

Effective production Inherent and organic qualities of organic foods (44 projects)

International researchcooperation and organicIntegrity (15 projects)

Research in globalised ecology.Organics as (sustainability) reference

11 countries. Pilot call on animal health, quality of foods, and marketing

23 countries, larger joint funds, new research opportunities

Research programmes coordinated by ICROFS

From DARCOF to ICROFS

Agro-ecologyDiversityRecycling

Healthy soilHealthy crops

Healthy livestockHealthy people

Organic = Økologisk = Ecological

Ecological and social justice

Fari Trade?

Precaution

The four basic principles of organic agricultureEndorsed by IFOAM, September 2005

Organic in Denmark

Total turnover of organic food in DK(in 1000 DKK = 190 USD)

Organic in Denmark

Import-Export of Organic Commodities(in 1000 DKK = 190 USD)

Organic in Denmark

Import-Export Organic CommoditiesTotal Africa (in 1000 DKK = 190 USD)

Organic in Denmark

Copenhagen, Sunday October 21, 2007

Supermarkets use organic products to boost their image

Organic in Denmark

ICROFS’ international activities I

• New regional activities in Africa, Asia and Latin America– Africa - Workshop in Uganda integrated with the 1st African

Organic Conference (22 May 2009)– Asia - Workshop in China with CAU (21-23 October 2009)– Latin-America - Workshop in Brazil with EMBRAPA (18-20

September 2009)– Coordination and implementation of research projects?

• European Activities– CORE Organic II (being negotiated with the EU)– CORE Organic I transnational research projects– European Technology Platform (TP Organics)– Coordination and participation in EU R&D projects

International activities

ICROFS’ international activities II

• International Horizontal Activities– BioFach Organic Exposition 19-22 Feb 2009 –

organized 3 Technical Sessions– FAO Side Event on Organic Farming, held in Rome 22

April 2009 – collaboration with FAO and IFOAM– Organic Research Centre Alliance (ORCA), project

document finalised July 2009 – FAO in collaboration with FIBL and ICROFS (www.fao.org/organicag)

– COP 15 Side Event being planned together with american partners – December 2009

• Information and Communication (www.icrofs.org, Organic Eprints, Newsletters, Books, Publications, BioFach, Økologikongres, etc.)

International activities

• Abundant food insecurity (FAO, 2006)

• Demand for food will increase (Evans, 2009, and others)

• Unsustainable use of natural production factors such as soil, biological diversity and water (Pimentel et al., 1995; FAO, 2003)

• 60 % of ecosystem services are degraded (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005)

• Intensive agriculture depends on high energy but could be energy self-reliant and could mitigate GHG emission considerably (Smith et al., 2007)

• Agriculture is insufficiently prepared to cope with unpredictability and adaptation to climate change

(Lobell et al., 2008)

Challenges for Sustainable AgriculturalProduction and Farming Systems Dev.

Our driving force

IAASTD Executive summary (2009):

• Degradation of ecosystems limits or reverses productivity gains

• A fundamental shift in AKST is required to successfully meeting development and sustainability goals

• Recognition and increased importance to the multifunctionality of agriculture is necessary

• Accounting for the complexity of agricultural systems within the diverse social and ecological contexts

• Success requires increased public and private investment in Agricultural Knowledge Science and Technology

• An interdisciplinary and Agro-ecosystems approach to knowledge production and sharing will be important

International Assessment of AKSTfor development (IAASTD)

Our driving force

From focus on increased productivity alone

To holistic integration of Natural Ressource Management with food and nutritional security

Main challenge (IAASTD):”increased productivity of agri-culture in a sustainable manner”

Organic principles may contribute to a valuable framework for a future sustainable agricultural production!

Our driving force

• Competitive productivity in low input systems• Improved farm economy (less costly inputs and premium

prices in certified OA)• Improved food security (availability, access, stability,

utilization)• Improved soil health (fertility, stability, water-holding

capacity) • Improved biodiversity and landscape preservation • Reduced risk of pesticide toxication and residues in food• Reduced nutrient lossess from intensive systems• Climate change adaptation and mitigation

Organic Agriculture contributesto eco-functional intensification

Potentials of OA:

Development, Innovation, adaptation of agro-ecological methods is needed to obtain the full potential of OA

Rice, Philippines, 20001) Soybeans, China3) Cotton, India5)

Organic Conventional Organic Conventional Organic Conventional

USD ha-1 USD ha-1 Indian Rupees ha-1

Gross revenue 6502) 564 10884) 713 338496) 26078

Cash costs 39 118 7796 9334

Indirect costs7) 149 155

305

640 2369 2650

Net revenue 462 290 7834) 72.5 23684 14094

Yields, kg ha-1 3250 3520 3750 7500 1348 1283

Labour use, Man days ha-1

49 52 190 181

1. Mendoza, 20042. A 25% price premium was obtained in certified organic3. Giovannucci, 20054. Own calculations based on 2 years prices given in Giovannucci (2005)5. Eyhorn et al., 2005. Numbers presented are averages of two years, own calculations6. Includes value of pulse intercrop and a 20% price premium on organic 7. Mainly opportunity costs of own labour

Selected examples of comparisons between organic vs. conventional cash crop production in smallholder farms in Asia

Organic Agricultureand farm economy

• The organically treated soils were physically more stable, contained smaller amounts of soluble nutrients and were found to be biologically more active than conventional. (DOK trials, Mäder et al., 2002)

• Under organic farming the soil organic matter captures and retains more water in the crop root zone. Water capture in organic fields can also be 100% higher than in conventional fields during torrential rains. (Rodale Institute, 2008)

Organic Agricultureand soil quality

Results from different long term experiments:

Meta analysis of comparative studies (Bengtsson et al., 2005):• Species richness 30% higher in organic farms (n=32)

– Birds, Plants – Predatory insects, carabidae

• Species abundance 50% higher in organic farms (n=117)– Weeds, Soil organisms (earthworms) – Predatory insects, carabidae– Not potential pest species!

Same picture in review Hole et al., 2005 (n=76) Causes for higher diversity and abundance under organic farming:•Non use of pesticides & fertiliser•Friendly treatment of hedgerows and non‐crop habitats on organic farms•Preservation of mixed farming and diversified land use

Agro‐ecological methods could also be used in non‐organic ‐ but in reality is not!

Organic Agriculture promotes biodiversityScienific evidence…..

ICROFS’ Big Hairy Audacious Goal:

The principles of organic agriculture have become a global reference for sustainability in agriculture and food systems due to evidence based on research and adaptive management.

Thank you for your attention !

`vuta sukuma’ = pull - push systemfor reducing stem borer and striga infestation’in Maize and Sorghum in Eastern Africa

• Trap crops to attract moths to reduced pest problems in crops: Napier and other fodder grasses

• Intercrops with repellant properties: legumes• Striga control by intercropping with Desmodium

species (legumes)• ”Opportunities for breeding and use of molecular

genetics”

Example: Science for development ofagro-ecological methods

OA is good for biodiversity andbiodiversity is good for OA

Organic farmers use more Agro-ecological methods:

• Mixed crop rotations, intercropping, …• Grasslands and green manure, • Habitats and non-farmed areas• Non-chemical pest management

Promoting functional diversity means enhancing and benefitting from Ecological service functions:

•Pollination•Pest and disease prevention•Biodiversity preservation, •Soil quality•Resilience•In situ conservation of genes

• Eco-functional intensification is knowledge intensive• Develoment of agro-ecological methods• Adoption of agro-ecological methods• Value chain development for various markets• Organic agriculture’s place in development strategies• Evidence for decision makers• Global collaboration in research and innovation

The multi-dimensionalchallenges of OA

Our driving force